Generally speaking a wing collar is the call for your more fancy / formal events -- state dinners, opening night of the opera / ballet season, formal weddings. If you're a democrat -- the inauguration party in January 2013.

Black tie (and on occasion, white tie and morning dress) "rules" have an avid and wide circle of non-practicing Internet advisors. The traditional rules are great, and like mid-century Modern furniture, it's easy to learn the code. These rules were made with the assumption of a general interest in jubilant conformity contributing to fun and visually egalitarian events. I would love it if it were still true, and am old enough and socially retarded enough to remember when it was like that in some circles. My general advice for modern guys uncertain about black tie is to dress comfortably, simply, conservatively, and with an attention to making sure everything fits. If you ask questions, you are still too unsophisticated...and most importantly, so too likely are your hosts and fellow celebrants...to make worrying about a wing collar worthwhile.

Generally speaking a wing collar is the call for your more fancy / formal events -- state dinners, opening night of the opera / ballet season, formal weddings. If you're a democrat -- the inauguration party in January 2013.

thanks for the input everyone, it seems turndown it is....does it matter that im wearing a tux with Peak Lapels?

Nope.

Peak lapels evolved from formal tailed coats while shawl collars evolved from less formal smoking jackets, so while it could be argued that peak lapels have a slightly more formal heritage, nowadays, due to eddies in the evolutionary space-time continuum of formal wear evolution, each could be said to be equally formal if done right and really no longer bear any defined association to collar style.

Notch lapels, which were retro-adapted from lounge suits, seem like they were popular some years ago but have more recently fallen out of favour and I (and the honorable gentleman above me in this thread) seem to have absolutely no problem with that!

In the earliest periods of black tie, stepped or notch lapels were common. If you think about an early term for a tuxedo, a "dress lounge," you might understand why. Between then and the present, there was consolidation around peaked lapels, a consolidation challenged by the imposition of mass RTW patterns for suits on to cheap dinner suits for rent or sake.

In the earliest periods of black tie, stepped or notch lapels were common. If you think about an early term for a tuxedo, a "dress lounge," you might understand why.

Between then and the present, there was consolidation around peaked lapels, a consolidation challenged by the imposition of mass RTW patterns for suits on to cheap dinner suits for rent or sake.

I must be from the earliest periods. My Paul Stuart Tux dates from 1965 and has
notch lapels, flap pockets, natural shoulders, and a center vent. Miracle of miracles,
it still fits (more or less). At the time it was purchased, the standard Brooks model
had peak lapels and, besom like pockets, similar to those on the US Navy officer's uniform.

Does anyone ever stray from strict black and white?
We all know there are some aberrations out there. I suppose I couldnforgive a red bow tie at a Christmas party and even the great Bernard Roetzel advocates a red silk pocket square to add a glimpse of colour.

I get so few opportunities to don the penguin I tend to play it straight downthe middle. If I had several events per year I could see myself shaking things up a little bit but no Oscar style freak shows.